Are Akron kids ready for kindergarten?
There’s an old saying that goes, “All I really need to know, I learned in kindergarten.”
Though that’s obviously an exaggeration, it is true that kindergarten and those early elementary school years can lay the foundation for academic success – or struggles – for years to come.
It’s critical that young learners come prepared to start school by participating in a quality, age-appropriate pre-kindergarten program that focuses on social foundations, basic language and literacy skills, and basic math, such as counting objects and comparing the sizes of groups.
We were surprised to learn during a recent school board retreat that Akron is among the last large Ohio cities without universal pre-K. New Mayor Shammas Malik told the board he hopes to change that – and with good reason.
Only 15.5% of current Akron Public Schools kindergarten students were “demonstrating readiness” on the state’s Kindergarten Readiness Assessment before starting the school year, according to data from the district.
About 25% of APS kindergartners tested as “on track” on the language and literacy component of the state assessment.
What exactly is universal pre-K?
The national advocacy group Alliance for Early Success defines universal pre-K as “a policy framework that ensures any family who wants to enroll their preschool-aged child in a publicly funded, prekindergarten care and education program has the opportunity to make that choice.”
Numerous studies have shown the short-term and long-term benefits of universal pre-K programs.
Researchers at Georgetown University, for example, spent 20 years tracking students in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the largest district in a state that offers free, voluntary pre-kindergarten classes for all 4-yearolds. They found children who attended preschool had better math and self-regulation skills that persisted into third grade compared to those who didn’t receive an early childhood education.
There’s evidence the benefits continue for years. By high school, Tulsa students who attended pre-K were more likely to enroll in AP courses and graduate on time and less likely to fail courses.
Universal pre-K is not a one-size-fits-all approach.
Toledo, Cincinnati, Columbus, Dayton and Cleveland have universal pre-K, though each city’s program has its own funding model, according to the United Way of Summit and Medina Counties.
Columbus, for example, pulls from the city’s general fund to support the initiative, while Cleveland’s program benefits from a Cuyahoga County levy. Toledo relies on a mix of city funds, other public dollars and private fundraising.
Malik expects it will take a combination of levies, state dollars and increased private or public school enrollment to make universal pre-K a reality in Akron.
Akron Public Schools has a foundation on which to build community-wide access to pre-kindergarten programs.
About 25% of the district’s incoming kindergartners participate in a pre-K program offered through APS.
Akron Public Schools is considering expanding some of its early learning programs from half-day to full-day.
The ultimate solution in Akron likely will require the work of a variety of partners – the city, the school district, nonprofit organizations and existing pre-K providers already serving the community. We hope area foundations will answer the call and support the initiative.
The city’s new education and health strategist, Richelle Wardell, has vast experience leading early childhood and education strategies in her previous roles at the Sisters of Charity Foundation of Canton, the United Way of Summit County and the Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority, where she served as the early childhood initiative manager.
It’s encouraging that she will lead the administration’s efforts to work with partners on the eventual implementation of a universal pre-K initiative for Akron.
Investing in Akron’s youngest residents today will undoubtedly pay off in the future.